Submersible bearing and hub assembly

Abstract

A vehicle wheel hub assembly which protects the bearings located therein from deterioration resulting from water penetrating the interior of the hub. The assembly has a hub housing, the interior of which communicates with a reservoir located above the housing and which contains liquid lubricant. The communication between the hub housing and reservoir allows filling of the hub interior with lubricant when stationary or rotating at low speed and escape of lubricant into the reservoir from the hub housing when the hub is in rapid motion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A submersible wheel bearing assembly comprising: a wheel hub housing,   a liquid lubricant reservoir positioned above said housing,   a tube connecting said reservoir to an oil relief port means associated with said housing, said port means communicating with the interior of the hub housing for filling of the interior with lubricant when said hub housing is stationary or rotating at low speed, said port means being operable to provide the escape of lubricant into the reservoir from the hub housing when said hub housing is in rapid motion.   
     
     
       2. An assembly according to claim 1 further comprising sleeve means surrounding an axle inwardly of said housing, means defining a liquid lubricant passageway between said sleeve and the interior of said housing, said port means communicating with said passageway. 
     
     
       3. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein the sleeve means comprises two parts of different internal diameter, being: a smaller internal diameter part adapted to fit against the shoulder of the axle and be sealed thereto by an O-ring seal positioned along the inner circumference of the said smaller part,   a larger internal diameter part adapted to fit within the seal of the hub housing and contact against the inner cylinder of the bearing, said contacting surface adapted to allow passage of lubricant from the sleeve interior to the roller bearings and the hub interior, and   an oil relief port extending across the wall of the sleeve and emerging at the inner surface of the said larger part to provide communication between the interior and exterior of the sleeve, which oil relief port engages a tube feeding from a lubricant reservoir.   
     
     
       4. An assembly according to claim 1 further comprising an inner spring seal surrounding an axle and sealing with said housing, said port comprising a passage through said inner spring seal. 
     
     
       5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein said inner spring seal comprises: a circular expanding spring;   a sealing lip tensioned upon the outer circumference of the said spring; and which comprises: an outer lip adapted to be fitted within the seal of the hub housing, and,   an inner flange adapted to secure the spring seal to the surface of the axle, which flange when so secured provides a cavity within the spring seal that communicates with the roller bearings and the hub interior, and   an oil relief port extending across the wall of the flange to communicate between the interior cavity of the spring seal and the exterior, which oil relief port engages a tube feeding from a lubricant reservoir.     
     
     
       6. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir comprises a liquid lubricant tube connected to said port. 
     
     
       7. An assembly according to claim 6 wherein said tube is connected with a substantially fluid-tight container.